How to Get Rid of Ants Naturally

Every ant that finds food leaves an invisible pheromone trail leading back to the colony, which is why once you see one ant, you tend to see a steady stream of them within hours. Wiping up the ants themselves does almost nothing if the trail is still there, since new scouts just pick up where the last ones left off.

1. Wipe down the trail with soapy water or a vinegar-water solution (equal parts white vinegar and water), which disrupts the scent trail ants use to navigate.

2. Clean any surface the ants have crossed, not just where you first spotted them, since the trail often extends further than it looks.

3. Repeat over the following days as new scouts occasionally test the old route before giving up entirely.

- Cinnamon, chalk, or coffee grounds sprinkled along entry points like windowsills or door thresholds disrupt the ants' ability to follow a scent trail across that line.

- A vinegar-water spray used regularly on countertops, sills, and known entry points keeps new trails from forming in the first place.

- Citrus peels rubbed along baseboards and entry points are unpleasant to ants and act as a mild natural repellent.

- Diatomaceous earth, a fine powder made from fossilized algae, is effective against ants (and many other crawling insects) by damaging their exoskeletons on contact — apply a thin layer along entry points and baseboards, away from areas pets or kids might disturb it.

If deterrents alone aren't solving an established indoor colony, a natural bait can be more effective, since it gets carried back to the nest rather than just repelling the ants you can see.

1. Mix equal parts borax and sugar (or a small amount of honey) into a thick paste.

2. Place small amounts on bottle caps or squares of cardboard near the ant trail, away from children and pets.

3. Leave it undisturbed for several days. The ants carry the mixture back to the colony, where it gradually reduces the population, including the queen — this is slower than a spray but far more effective at actually solving the source of the problem.

1. Identify where ants are entering by following the trail back toward a wall, window, or door.

2. Seal small gaps and cracks with caulk, particularly around window and door frames, baseboards, and any utility pipe openings.

3. Check weather stripping on doors, which is a common overlooked entry point.

- Wipe up spills and crumbs promptly, particularly anything sugary or greasy.

- Store food, including pet food, in sealed containers rather than bags or boxes ants can chew through.

- Take out the trash regularly and rinse recyclables that held food or drink.

- Fix any leaking pipes or standing water, since some ant species are drawn to moisture as much as food.

If you're dealing with a large infestation, a species like carpenter ants that can damage wood structures, or a colony that isn't responding to weeks of consistent effort, it's worth calling a pest control professional. Natural methods work well for common household ants dealing with everyday food sources, but a structural infestation is a different scale of problem.

Ants tend to surge seasonally, particularly as weather changes and they search for new food and shelter. Keeping up the light maintenance — a quick wipe with vinegar water on high-traffic counters, sealed food storage, and an eye on entry points — means that if scouts do show up again, they don't find much worth reporting back about.